Families with eligible children can receive tax benefits under the Child Tax Credit. It’s possible that you can still get the credit if you don’t often submit taxes.
Who Is Eligible
For every eligible child with a Social Security number that is good for work in the US, you can file a claim for the Child Tax Credit.
In general, for your dependency to qualify as a child for the 2024 tax year, they need to:
Be younger than 17 by year’s end.
Be your brother, sister, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, eligible foster kid, son, daughter, stepchild, or a descendant of any of these (grandchild, niece, nephew, etc.)
Give no more than half of their own funds for the entire year.
Have spent more than half the year living with you.
Be accurately listed on your tax return as your dependent.
Not file a joint return for the tax year with their partner, or file it just to get a refund for taxes that were deducted or calculated, or that they paid.
Have been a citizen, national, or resident alien of the United States.
If you meet all eligibility requirements and your yearly income does not exceed $200,000 ($400,000 if filing a combined return), you are entitled for the full 2023 Child Tax Credit for each qualified child.
Higher-paid parents and guardians might be able to get a partial credit.
By listing your children and other dependents on Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, and including a completed Schedule 8812, Credits for Qualifying Children and Other Dependents, you can claim the Child Tax Credit.
Details If We Examine or Reject Your Claim:
How to proceed if your claim is audited
What happens if your claim is rejected
How to get credit back if we’ve previously denied it
Further Family Tax Credits
Besides being entitled to the Child Tax Credit, you can be eligible for the following tax credits:
Credit for Dependent and Child Care
Credit for Earned Income Tax
Programs for Adoption Assistance and Credit
Credits for education
For a child or dependent who is not a “qualifying child” for the purposes of the Child Tax Credit, you can be qualified for the Credit for Additional Dependents.
References
Guidelines for Schedule 8812
Publication 501, Basic Deduction and Filing Data for The dependents
The U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens, Publication 519
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